'Dancing With the Stars': Gov. Rick Perry Given Best Odds ... to Go Home First

The Fall 2016 Mirrorball trophy needs a forever home, but only one couple will claim it in "Dancing With the Stars" Season 23. The wobbly baby giraffes hit the ballroom for the first time tonight (Monday, September 12) but the oddsmakers have already decided who has the best chance of winning, and who has the best chance of leaving first.

A video posted by Dancing with the Stars (@dancingabc) on Sep 1, 2016 at 5:19pm PDT

TVLine basically went in the same direction -- Laurie & Val with the best chance of winning, and Rick & Emma with the best chance of going home first. Are they right? They're probably close, but whenever something is so obvious, fans usually go in a different direction.

It's true that DWTS does not have a great track record with politicians. (Remember Tom DeLay? Do your best to forget.) However, we haven't seen Rick Perry dance, and he is dedicating his time on DWTS to veterans, which may help him. Plus, there are some lesser-known stars on this season, including "Little Women: LA" star Terra Jolé and IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe, who will have to work hard to make an impression.

A video posted by Dancing with the Stars (@dancingabc) on Sep 3, 2016 at 6:28pm PDT

But you also can't remove the pro factor, since the pros are the real stars. Ryan Lochte doesn't deserve to be here at all, much less with beloved returning pro Cheryl Burke. That said, she will help keep him around. Derek Hough almost always makes the finals, and he will probably get there again, or get close, with Marilu Henner. Both Chmerkovskiy brothers are dancing this season, and it's possible their combined fan base may end up splitting votes. Newer pros may have a tougher time rallying fan votes. And we have to see who can actually dance, who can charm the audience, and who looks so in danger of being eliminated that it rushes fans to the phones/websites to save them.

The Fall 2016 season of "Dancing With the Stars" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.